Kingdom of Lies Read online

  The room fell into silence.

  “Do you mean The Cult of the Damned?” one of the concubines asked, “my family talked of them during their last visit.”

  King Dakk looked over at the book worm. She might be of some use yet. “Is it true that the demon that drives them is of female origin Ceya?”

  Ceya blushed heavily. “Yes my king, it is said she has eyes that shine red with evil intent and…”

  “I am sorry to interrupt,” Sahar said, “but the leader is a woman and as she kills her beauty grows. These rumors of a demon are no more than silly superstition.”

  “Really?” King Dakk purred, “are you suggesting that my concubine’s family are stupid?”

  “Of course not, no,” Sahar said with widened eyes, “I am sorry if my words offended anyone. It was not my intent to cause hurt or ill feelings. Maybe it is time that I rise and bid you all farewell.”

  “You have to be dismissed by the king,” one of the youngest concubines chimed in.

  “Right,” Sahar sighed, “of course.”

  King Dakk could feel fury boiling up inside him. This noisy bitch clearly had no proper upbringing. Clearly no male taught her how to behave around anyone, especially royalty. “Concubines, your presence is no longer needed. Go straight to bed; do not dally in the hallways.”

  “Of course King Dakk,” they said and rose in unison, “goodnight our king, guards, servants and special guest from a far.” The women left in single file.

  Sahar who was playing with what was left on her plate put down her fork. She now stared straight at the king. Watching him very closely.

  “Women don’t stare directly into my eyes like that,” King Dakk growled.

  Sahar turned her attention to the jester who seemed used to this display and just kept entertaining. “Is there a reason why I am still here my king? You don’t seem to like me very much.”

  “Like is irrelevant,” King Dakk blasted, “you need to learn your place while within my walls.”

  “I apologize, again King Dakk.”

  “False words hold no meaning har…”

  “Enough, I have a name and it is not harlot,” Sahar cut him off, “you have been a horrendous host and I hope that we never cross paths ever again. You are clearly uninterested in a female passing on news of an upcoming threat. So let me leave and send your scouts out to find out.”

  King Dakk lounged out his chair and grabbed her by the hair. “You dare instruct me you red haired witch!” he tugged and she winced, “someone should have taught you how to behave a long time ago. But since it’s just us, I will take on your tutelage. Let’s see who isn’t a harlot.”

  A surge of power sent him flying. Guards ran to his aid and even more poured in. Sahar had formed a shield around herself and it knocked back anyone who tried to get close to it. Weapons thrown just bounced back at their owners.

  “She has magic,” King Dakk awed, “a shield to repel any kind of attack. Oh Sahar…”

  “I just want to leave,” Sahar snapped, “I don’t need your false platitudes.”

  King Dakk could barely hold his temper. He was five seconds away from killing this redhead himself. She pranced around like she was royalty and dealt out orders as if she were in charge. “Why not stay the night? It’s late and no matter our differences I would rather not have you on the roads alone.”

  “I have people waiting for me in a nearby village,” Sahar said, “they would be concerned if their leader didn’t return when she said she would.”

  King Dakk sat up straight. “A leader, are you? Might I ask of what?”

  “A group of peaceful travelers,” Sahar told him, “sadly not everyone accepts us and a serious attack harmed many of us…” she looked away.

  King Dakk looked at her more closely. When she wasn’t running her mouth she was almost pleasing. “I am sorry for your loss. Was this attack perpetrated by the demon woman.”

  “No,” Sahar said, “but…she used to travel with us and after the attack defied my order and sought revenge. When I found out about the horror she had done, I sent her away. She took most of my remaining followers who felt her way was better.”

  “So she was with you?” King Dakk noted.

  “Until she decided to seek rampant vengeance,” Sahar said, “I would never condone such a thing.”

  “So you know her?” King Dakk asked and Sahar nodded, “then I need you to stay here then.”

  “Excuse me?” Sahar said, “what about my people? They need me.”

  King Dakk rose to his feet. “You tell me that you traveled with the same band of people coming to kill us. You are lucky to not be imprisoned. Now you will behave and heel!”

  Sahar tried to rise but a guard stopped her. “You cannot keep me here.”

  “Wait,” the jester interrupted, “my king please, let me try.”

  King Dakk could barely keep himself from throttling the woman. “Be quick.”

  The jester hurried over to Sahar. “I am so sorry but King Dakk is not used to females of your caliber. Please he just wants you to help us be ready for this rising threat. I am sure he will let you leave afterwards. Just give him some leeway and try to respect his traditions and leadership.”

  Sahar looked at with open skepticism.

  “Please, if not for him, for the people,” the jester begged, “we are at your mercy.”

  King Dakk frowned at that line.

  Sahar sighed and closed her eyes. “Three days then I’m leaving.”

  King Dakk plastered a smile to hide his true intentions. “Of course.”

  Great danger

  A female in a blue satin nightgown jumped out of her sleep. Her blue eyes darted around the room. Moments later a group of males ran in.

  “Are you all right Lady Finity?” one asked.

  “Yes Knight Raymond I am well,” Finity said, “I have had another vision.”

  A man in purple robes pushed past. “Do you have anything new to tell the magicians?”

  “Yes high warlock,” Finity responded, “my half sister is on the move. Our kingdom Firara and the rest of the realm is in great danger.

  Safe again

  King Orron and Queen Relena washed their hands in bowls of blue liquid.

  “The ritual went well,” King Orron said satisfied.

  “Our gods will smile upon us,” Queen Relena said relieved, “Evinara will be safe for another three years.”

  The traveling woman

  Soldiers walked into a cell and pulled out a bony man and dragged him out.

  “Please just kill me,” the man begged, “I have nothing to tell you!”

  “Don’t sell yourself short,” a stocky blonde general walked forward, “we want to know more about a woman you used to travel with. The one with the death touch.”

  “Tarr?” he asked in a small voice.

  “General Beck would be very happy if you would tell us everything you know about her,” a soldier said, “might grant you a better stay here in the Quatz Kingdom.”

  The man looked up at them. “I’ll tell you everything I know.”

  The Calm before the Storm

  Lady Finity walked into the courtyard with Knight Raymond by her side. Last night had been a fitful sleep as her mind dwelt on the half sister who should have never been. Finity was of the Holy High Order Clan and anyone born of their seed was to be immediately brought into the fold. Her father’s decision to hide his wrongdoing and leave a defenseless child to fate had brought this approaching plague upon them. She was glad he was gone and that she now led the clan down a holy path. Now however she would have to tell the council who ruled them all of her father’s misdeeds. The council sat around the diamond table and all twelve were in the traditional green garb showing their status. Green meant richness and prosperity. Her clan’s color was blue since that was a holy color and like each clan she had to wear her color at all times.

  “Years ago my father committed an indiscretion,” Lady Finity started in front of the co
uncil; “he came back to Firara and pretended it never happened. When a letter came telling him of pregnancy he didn’t respond and I am only guessing but the woman must have given up since no more came. Last night I had a vision of a young woman in blue with a deadly touch marching towards our kingdom. She had the ghosts of past dead behind her and they were many. I knew then that she was my forgotten half sister and she was seeking vengeance for my deceased father’s rejection. His past sin has morphed into a monster bent on destroying us all.”

  She fell back causing gasps as Knight Raymond barely caught her in time. “My lady.”

  “This is very troubling,” one of the councilmen said, “Firara has a threat coming as a result of sin. We are a peaceful people with a proper defense ready. If we are to protect the kingdom this threat must be sought and wiped from the realm.”

  “But we rarely leave the kingdom,” a councilwoman objected, “and look what Guam did? There were rumors he was fraternizing with a beautiful blonde villager but I didn’t want to believe it. My older brother, a breaker of both bonding vow and our laws? I am truly heartbroken and ashamed.”

  Knight Raymond tuned out the conversation and set Finity on a stone bench by a fountain. The chirping birds and beautiful foliage signified a very different mood than what was at present. “Lady Finity do you need to return to the villa?”

  Lady Finity shook her head spreading orange hair about her face. Her heart raced a million miles per hour. The sins of her father caused more stress than she expected. “I am fine, please have a chair set. My body is too stressed to stand in front of the council any longer.”

  “Of course my lady,” the knight bowed his glittering armor moving fluidly with his body. The magic used to weave the strong magical cloth was rare but since it fit any body type the armor was very popular in and outside the kingdom. But Firara would never share the secret. A few however were stolen decades ago during an invasion by Quatz armed forces. Most of the infiltrators were killed and no one had made it that far into the kingdom undetected since.

  He soon returned with a fine chair covered in symbols from their old language. After it was set where Finity stood before, she walked over and sat in it.

  “I am sorry that this disgrace has distressed you so deeply,” her aunt said, “you will be bonded soon and it is sad that such a thing would happen at this time.”

  “I have no worries, my intended chosen by the council will be supportive and understanding,” Finity said, “the custom of having the person bound to us forever chosen by the council is a most wise one.”

  “Of course,” Knight Raymond said, “the council is the wisdom of Firara, without them we have no guidance to lead our kingdom to the best future.”

  “But we are losing sight of why we are meeting here,” Finity moved on, “we have to be ready for this beast in woman form. I too think that we should go out at once and seek her out. Terminate the threat before it gets anywhere near our walls and finds a breach to get in and cause harm.”

  “No,” the oldest councilman said, “it has been decided that we stay inside and fight one battle.”

  “But we have to destroy this threat,” Finity insisted, “are we going to wait until it finds a way to our doorstep? Just watch our backs until the threat is diminished or destroyed?”

  “That is exactly what we will do,” her aunt said with finality, “we are a people of peace and only act with war when threatened. How would we look traipsing across the realm with emblems of battle?”

  “As if we are ready to protect our kingdom,” Finity insisted, “Sahar has already ran off…”

  “Do not mention that name,” another female councilwoman went red with rage, “you have the nerve to remind us of what happened in the Righteous Order Clan?”

  Finity stared at her feet. She knew that Councilwoman Watara would have ill feelings of any reminder of a disgrace from her former clan. All council members forsook their clans and dedicated themselves to leading Firara without personal attachments to any clan. But something always lingered and she had struck a bad chord.

  Firara had five clans. The Holy High Order Clan that was the ruling clan after The Council and gave birth to the majority of magic born, Honor of Mind Clan which had the intellectuals and writers of the magical books and language, Righteous Order Clan whose members were those of virtue and prayer and were sought for advice on matters of great importance because of their undying loyalty and fabled inability to lie or accept liars, Strength Clan who supplied various workers including the highest honor of knighthood and the humble service of builders and carpenters and The Title Clan which was filled with members of Firara who were considered unremarkable. Those who expressed special talents were often transferred to another clan. Yet no clan member from another clan could be moved unless to join the council or demoted to The Title Clan. They wore blue, silver, yellow, brown and white respectively. Each clan was required to wear only their color at all times unless given permission to do otherwise. Those who had jobs that needed specific uniforms were exempted and knights were allowed to wear all colors since their duty was to protect the city at the cost of not being allowed to bond and also the risk of death. Warlocks who were called magicians by naïve outsiders wore the color purple and were allowed to stay with their clans though most moved to live in the Magical Tower where they got to be with their own kind and practice magic unheeded. Also since there was always less than twenty warlocks at a time in a tower built for fifty there was always plenty of room. Also warlocks were obligated to have relations with multiple females each week in hopes of birthing more warlocks. Many used to forgo the routine until the council made it law. Almost all the females came from The Title and Righteous Order Clan. The former was obligated and the latter volunteered to help the kingdom. Other clans saw this as whoring but kept quiet and simply did not participate.

  Anyone else with magic based abilities but couldn’t control magic like warlocks were treated as special citizens. Every three months their powers were assessed and a few were even allowed to put their powers on display at the annual Promise Show that showed the important citizens of the future presenting representations of their fabulous talent/abilities. Finity was able to show her vision to everyone via the help of a warlock for her presentation. She won Top Promise at age fourteen and got to select her own personal knight or her intended bond as a prize. Horrified at the idea of choosing the latter herself she decided on a knight. That was how she met Knight Raymond and he had been by her side ever since.

  “I am sorry I spoke out of turn,” Finity apologized, “I’m just so concerned, these image won’t get out of my head,” she said and broke into sobs.

  “Perhaps I can be of assistance,” the high warlock walked up, “having waking nightmares today Finity?”

  “High Warlock Vallen?” Finity turned in surprise to see the well coifed dark haired male, “what are you doing here? With all due respect this is a private meeting.”

  “No fear, I was allowed by the council to stand by,” High Warlock Vallen said brightly, “now I am so sorry to hear of your ongoing predicament,” he swiftly returned to the original subject.

  “I didn’t see you,” Knight Raymond spoke, “were you using an invisibility spell?”

  High Warlock Vallen bristled. “Of course not, you must just be off today.”

  Knight Raymond looked skeptical but he said nothing else.

  “As I was saying before,” Finity said to the council, “we need to stamp out this threat before a breach happens and puts us all in great danger. There is no excuse to delay.”

  “Finity dear,” a councilman leaned forward, “maybe you should let the high warlock take away your troubles.”

  “Excuse me?” Knight Raymond stepped forward, “but it seems that you are suggesting a tainting of her memory which is illegal unless she has committed a terrible crime.”

  “Or is in deep distress,” her aunt said, “dear Finity, do you not trust that the council knows best? That I your aunt
would never let anything dangerous happen to you?”

  Finity could feel her hands shaking. She knew that her kingdom believed in the greater good and saw nothing wrong with lying or changing memories to keep the peace. While this didn’t usually bother her, the fact that they would be so desperate to play with her memories over a disagreement of action did. “No need Councilwoman Hauna. I have withdrawn my protest and feel a lot better,” she told her aunt.

  “Really, then I guess we can adjourn for now,” Councilwoman Hauna said coldly, “Knight Raymond you are a credit to protecting Finity and sorry for pulling you from more pressing matters high warlock.”

  The high warlock nodded and left. But not before giving knight and lady a dark look.

  After leaving the courtyard Lady Finity broke into a run. She didn’t stop until she was far from the council. Knight Raymond was right behind her. “Thank you for defending me,” she panted.

  “That is my duty,” Knight Raymond said formally.

  “No, your duty is to Firara first as well as the council,” Finity countered, “you defied that when you defended me and verbally took on a high warlock,” she worried.

  Knight Raymond tilted his head. “Do you fear for my safety?”

  Finity blushed heavily. She wasn’t supposed to have such casual conversations with any knight. But Raymond was always different. It seemed there was no secret that needed to be kept from him.

  He tilted her head up. “From the day you were assigned to me I knew you were special. Your sister is a monster that needs to be quashed. Know that I’m ready to aid you, no matter the cost.”

  Finity felt her heart flutter. “Thank you.”

  Royalty

  The bony man from the cells ate ravenously. He was given a plate of roasted duck after sharing his knowledge with the general. Now he was freshly showered and in the private royal chambers. The king had wanted to speak with him personally but first left the man with a meal fit for royalty. Still he forsook the cutlery and ate with his hands and guzzled down the goblet of wine.